Uncovering the Past: A History of Archaeology

by William H. Stiebing Jr.

When one hears the words "archeology" or "archeologist," what may come to mind is a romantic image: Indiana Jones exploring exotic places in search of treasure & adventure. Indeed, novels, movies & popular accounts of archeological discoveries have made this widespread. Tales of abandoned cities, ruined temples, primeval monuments or ancient tombs kindle urges for adventure, exploration or treasure hunting that seems to lie beneath the surface of even the conventionally timid. Today, however, archeologists seek knowledge rather than intrinsically valuable objects. Their goal is to sweep aside the mists of time to understand vanished peoples & cultures. Stiebing offers an nontechnical history of archeology, tracing the study of ancient material culture from its beginnings in the Renaissance thru its development into a sophisticated modern discipline. The 1st study to focus on archeology as a discipline, he's organized history into the 4 stages of archeological development. The 1st stages (1450-1860 & 1860-1925), "the heroic age", focus on the exploits of colorful excavators who have made their mark on history. We read accounts of Giovanni Belzoni & the removal of the 7-ton colossus of Ramesses II, which was dragged by wooden platform & transported by boat from Egypt to London; we witness the clergyman John Peters's skirmish with Arab tribesmen, who surrounded his excavation & pillaged his camp; & Heinrich Schliemann's quest to prove the authenticity of the Iliad by searching for Troy along the Turkish coast. We watch as archeology comes of age as an academic discipline, employing stratigraphical excavation techniques, typographical sequence dating & stratigraphically based pottery chronology--laying the foundation for universal archeological activity. The 3rd phase (1925-60) marked the "Modern Archaology" era, a time when, using the now generally accepted stratigraphical method of excavation, scholars were able to synthesize data to define individual cultures & trace their development. This period saw a greater use of scientific instruments & procedures to locate, date & interpret remains, such as aerial photography, metal detectors, carbon-14 dating & tree-ring chronology. Lastly, he discusses the 4th phase of development (1960+) which introduced a greater desire for a more complete understanding of ancient cultures, including their ecology & attempts to explain why certain cultural phenomena occurred. He examines the emphasis on a cultural revolutionary approach, coupled with technological advances in robotics & computers over the last 15 years & their role in modern archeology. With over 80 photos, illustrations & maps, this history is an outstanding introduction to the field of archeology, chronicling the development of this former pastime of dilettantes into a rigorous science.

Genres: History, Archaeology, Nonfiction, History Of Science

320 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1993

Reviews

[G0thamite · Rating 4 out of 5]

All in all a very entertaining and informative read on the history of archaeology from the mid-15th century until the early 1990's. Dr. Stiebing gives you the broad sweep of discoveries including the major sights and personalities involved. This book will broaden your understanding of this vastly changing discipline. You will not find material from 1993 till present but this is still a valuable overview for its period.

My only complaint is a lack of information for a subject I enjoy studying, i.e., Biblical archaeology. In my opinion a major oversight, but obviously not of interest to the author. This can be remedied with the many books specifically written on this subject. I was especially pleased to find an eight page listing of the major archaeological finds from 1446 to 1991 - something you may not come across in other such works. Highly recommended.

[Riversue · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining and enlightening history of archaeology. The only short-coming that could be attributed to this book is that it is getting long in the tooth and so it doesn't cover the changes since about 1980 when various conceptual theories exploded on the scene.